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Lemon shark - Negaprion brevirostris

Found along the tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of both North and South America as well as Africa’s Ivory Coast, the lemon shark’s name is derived from its coloration, which can appear a pale yellow. It is perfectly camouflaged for swimming over the sandy sea floor while hunting for bony fish and crustaceans, although it is also known to feed on sea birds, rays, and smaller sharks. Fully grown adults reach approximately 8-10ft in length. It is viviparous, with females giving birth to a litter numbering between 4-17 pups every other year after a 10-12 month gestation; the pups stay in and around the shallow “nursery grounds” in which they were born for several years before venturing further. The lemon shark is targeted by commercial and recreational fishermen and is particularly sought after for its fins, which fetch a high price in the shark fin trade. It is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.